Girl collects warm clothes for homeless

As temperatures plummet, colleagues at BGL Group in Sunderland have collected 20 bin bags of unwanted clothes to keep the homeless warm this winter at the request of a seven-year-old schoolgirl.

Quinn Lux Lownie, of Red House, asked BGL for donations to help North East Homeless, where her mum, Ashleigh Lownie volunteers.

Ashleigh, 42, said: “We’ve heard a lot about all the amazing charity work BGL does, so we asked if there was anything they could do to help and the response was absolutely fantastic.

A further 10 bin bags were delivered to Swan Lodge Lifehouse in Sunderland, which provides accommodation for people who have alcohol problems and other complex needs, including mental health and substance misuse.

With over 10 million customers, BGL is a leading digital distributor of insurance and household financial services via brands including comparethemarket. com, Budget Insurance, Dial Direct and Beagle Street. It employs more than 3,000 people across its five sites – including 760 people at its offices in St Catherine’s Court, Sunderland.

Emily Taylor, CSR Specialist for BGL’s offices in Sunderland, said: “Every month at each of BGL’s five sites, we hold a collection for a particular charity. Quinn asked us to make our November donation station in aid of North East Homeless and we were only too happy to help. GL has pledged to give up to £30,000 and our people will be donating food, clothes, toys and animal feed for local charities.”